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Posted on June 6, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

If you told me two years ago that one of the best movies of 2014 would be “The Lego Movie,” then I would never have believed you and probably would have scoffed derisively. I’m so smug. That said, “The Lego Movie” surprisingly didn’t just turn out to be a fantastic movie, but one of the best movies of 2014. It’s an animated adventure filled with heart, laugh out loud comedy, and very relevant commentary about individuality, and the inherent magic and beauty behind collecting and creating. First and foremost, though, it’s an excellent animated adventure for all ages.

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Lesson of the Evil (Aku no kyôten) (2012)

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

It’s so gratifying to see Takashi Miike returning to his chaotic roots that helped make him such a beloved auteur. While I’m sure his court room movie “Ace Attorney,” and the “Ninja Kids” actioner were fine outputs, “Lesson of the Evil” is a return to form for a man who proves he hasn’t lost a bit of his step. “Lesson of the Evil” isn’t just shocking, but it’s gory, disturbing, and features some of the most surreal supernatural elements I’ve seen in years. Miike comes back with a bang, and I had a difficult time turning away from “Lesson of the Evil,” even when it was tough to sit through.

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The Lego Movie (2014)

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Felix Vasquez

Upon watching the trailer for “The Lego Movie,” I bashed it as resembling nothing but a glorified “Robot Chicken” segment. I’m happy to say that “The Lego Movie” not only proves me wrong, but manages to be the antithesis of everything it had potential to be. It’s novel, it’s entertaining, it’s funny, it’s witty, and though it revolves around one brand of toy, it never actually feels like one giant commercial. Instead it celebrates why Lego has been so relevant in pop culture. To make things even more interesting is that it influences audiences to be special by aspiring for individuality and true accomplishments.

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The Lords of Salem (2013)

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

One thing about Rob Zombie as a director is that he’s tasked with finishing one of his many nonsensical horror films with Sheri Moon as the lead. Sheri Moon is not an actress by any definition. She’s mostly suited for silent supporting roles with someone else doing the heavy lifting. Hence why she’s so much fun in “The Devil’s Rejects.” Sid Haig and Bill Moseley are such excellent actors, Moon doesn’t have to do much but work off them. With “Lords of Salem,” Zombie seems to realize Moon can’t carry a movie on her own, so he once again gives Moon a great supporting cast to work off of. When that safety net is gone, Moon mostly plays her role without much dialogue or heavy emoting, as Zombie fills in her bad performance with a ton of surrealism.

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Labyrinth (1986)

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

Director Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” is one of the many epic fantasy films of the eighties indirectly influenced by George Lucas’ “Star Wars,” and while it never aspires to be anything more than a standalone tale, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t possess epic potential from beginning to end. Director Henson unfolds a very unique and entertaining tale of a young girl who learns how to grow as a person through a menacing adventure through a massive labyrinth. Much in the realm of “Alice in Wonderland,” or “Wizard of Oz,” young Sarah finds herself confronting many monsters and menaces, and becomes a hero in the end.

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Little Monsters (1989)

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

The 1989 horror comedy from Richard Greenberg is definitely one of the best buddy comedies from the late eighties. While nostalgia is very kind to it, many years later it’s just a very good movie that hasn’t aged all that well. In either case, “Little Monsters” is a childhood classic I recall watching about three times a day for a month, and still loving. I was a seven year old horror fan and couldn’t get enough of this world presented to us on-screen. It also helped that the movie starred Fred Savage who, at the time, was the big name as a child star.

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Little Red (2012)

Posted on September 13, 2013 by Felix Vasquez

The tale of Little Red Riding Hood was always fraught with undertones that would be dissected and re-worked for decades. Director Tate Bunker takes the tale of Little Red Riding Hood and re-works it in to a wonderful and occasionally eerie coming of age road trip dramedy that works on many levels. It’s simple, but often times incredibly clever, realizing the symbolism of the story and integrating that in to the modern setting.

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